TSMC introduces N4X process for hpc chips

TSMC introduces a new variant of its 5nm process and calls it N4X. The node is specifically intended for high performance computing and, according to the chip manufacturer, optimized for maximum performance and the highest clock frequencies.

The N4X node is TSMC’s first node specifically targeting HPC chips. This includes powerful chips that are used in servers and supercomputers. From now on, TSMC will use the X designation for nodes specifically developed for hpc products.

TSMC has adapted its 5nm process for chips with a high voltage and maximum clock frequency. To this end, optimizations have been made to the back-end metal stack and the chipmaker claims to use very high-density metal-insulator-metal capacitors.

At a voltage of 1.2 volts, chips made on the N4X node deliver fifteen percent better performance than N5 chips and compared to the N4P node, the performance is four percent better, TSMC claims. N4X chips can also operate at a higher voltage to further boost performance. TSMC explains in a blog that the N4X node is suitable for chips with a TDP of 100W up to 1000W in extreme cases.

According to TSMC, chip designers can use their existing designs for N5 chips as a basis for production on N4X. That should speed up the development process of N4X chips. The first small-scale production, the so-called risk production, is expected in the first half of 2023.

At the end of October, TSMC also announced the N4P node, which is also based on the 5nm process. The P variant has a higher transistor density and is faster to produce than its predecessor. Production on N4P will start in the second half of 2022.